LECTURE NOTES

Health Ethics
and Law
For Health Extension Workers

Challi Jira

Jimma University

In collaboration with the Ethiopia Public Health Training Initiative, The Carter Center,
the Ethiopia Ministry of Health, and the Ethiopia Ministry of Education

November 2004
 Funded under USAID Cooperative Agreement No. 663-A-00-00-0358-00.

Produced in collaboration with the Ethiopia Public Health Training Initiative, The Carter
Center, the Ethiopia Ministry of Health, and the Ethiopia Ministry of Education.

Important Guidelines for Printing and Photocopying

Limited permission is granted free of charge to print or photocopy all pages of this
publication for educational, not-for-profit use by health care workers, students or
faculty. All copies must retain all author credits and copyright notices included in the
original document. Under no circumstances is it permissible to sell or distribute on a
commercial basis, or to claim authorship of, copies of material reproduced from this
publication.

©2004 by Challi Jira

All rights reserved. Except as expressly provided above, no part of this publication may
be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical,
including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system,
without written permission of the author or authors.

This material is intended for educational use only by practicing health care workers or
students and faculty in a health care field.
 Acknowledgments

The development of this lecture note for training Health Extension

workers is an arduous assignment for Ato Challi Jira at Jimma
University.

Essentially, it required the consolidation and merging of existing in

depth training materials, examination of Health Extension Package
manuals and the Curriculum.

Recognizing the importance of and the need for the preparation of the
lecture note for the Training of Health Extension workers THE
CARTER CENTER (TCC) ETHIOPIA PUBLIC HEALTH TRAINING
INITIATIVE (EPHTI) facilitated the task for Jimma University to write
the lecture note in consultation with the Health Extension
Coordinating Office of the Federal Ministry of Health.

Finally the Federal Ministry of Health would like to express special

words of gratitude for those who contributed and endeavored to the
development of this lecture note and to TCC/USAID for the technical
and financial support.

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 Table of Contents

Topics Pages
Acknowledgement ..........................................................................i
Table of contents ........................................................................... ii
Introduction ............................................................................... 1

UNIT ONE: Background and Rationale......................................... 3

1.1 Background ............................................................ 3
1.2 Rationale of Ethics ................................................ 8

UNIT TWO: Health Ethics ......................................................... 10

UNIT THREE: Principles of Ethics for Health Extension Workers ..15

UNIT FOUR: Existing Health Laws in Ethiopia ...........................22

Bibliography ..............................................................................42

Appendix 1: Public Health Proclamation.....................................45

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Health Ethics and Law

Introduction

Currently the government of Ethiopia has decided to introduce an

innovative community-based health care delivery system aimed at
creating healthy environment as well as healthful living by introducing
a Health Extension package programme.

The health extension service is being provided as a package focusing

on preventive health measures targeting households at the kebele
level. A new cadre of health namely health extension package
workers are undergoing training to take responsibilities in
implementing health extension programme.

The delivery of a meaningful health service can only be successful

when accompanied by sound principle of Health Ethics and adequate
knowledge of health laws related to health service delivery system.

Ethics is a system of moral principles, rules of conduct about a

particular class of human action or a particular group of people. It is
also that branch of philosophy dealing with value relating to human
conduct in respect to whether certain actions are right or wrong and
whether the motives and ends of such actions are good or bad.

The issue of human rights-personal, civic and those that are

international in scope has been brought often to the public’s attention
in the past several years. Nowhere is this issue more important than
in delivery of health care.
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Health Ethics and Law

The preparation of this lecture note on health Ethics and health laws
is important and timely as there is no appropriate book to address the
subject in teaching health Extension Package Workers.

As morals and ethics of society in general are changing, health care

ethics merely reflects and absorbs this change. It is obvious,
therefore that this lecture note of health Ethics and health laws for
health extension package workers will require periodic review based
on social, health and legal progress.

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Health Ethics and Law

UNIT ONE
Background and Rationale

1.1 Background

Ethics is the philosophical study of the moral value of human conduct

and the rules that govern it. The practical manifestations of ethics
relates to codes of normative behaviour for society and an awareness
of issues within society that have moral importance.

Ethics have been particularly associated with specific groups in

society that are deemed to have societal responsibility. Professions
are among such groups. What is certain is that professions have a
prestigious, powerful and trusted place in society and both the public
and the law expect high standards of conduct, especially where
society allows self-regulation.

The purpose of this code of ethics is to serve as a guide to conduct

Health Service Extension programmes. It contains standards of
ethical behaviour for Health Extension workers in fulfilling their duties
and responsibilities.

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Health Ethics and Law

Policy on Health

The policy as supporting environment:

Health has long been and is increasingly a concern of all people as

citizens of the world, as citizens of sovereign nations, as participants
in the endeavours of the field of social welfare/social development,
and as professionals engaged directly or indirectly in various roles in
the human services.

In keeping with their holistic view of the person, health extension

package workers view health as defined by the World Health
Organization (WHO), namely as a positive state of physical, mental
and emotional well-being. Illness is seen as the converse of health
and includes suffering from sickness and disablement, contagious
diseases and diseases of deprivation that involve the lack of food, of
clean water, of pure air, of safe shelter, of health services, and of
social services.

The policy as a guide for action is a means for identifying and

addressing issues of health and illness that affect the individual, the
family (and particularly the vulnerable family), the neighborhood, the
region, the country, and also the world - defined both as the
collectivity of all people and as the fragile and endangered
environment on which all life ultimately depends.

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Health Ethics and Law

Effective strategies on Health Service Development Programme

(HSDP) call for informed support by individual health extension
worker, organizations on a range of broad public policies that include
the following: policies on the equitable distribution of health; policies
on population and family planning; policies on the production of food;
policies to eliminate adult illiteracy and to offer every child and young
person the knowledge and skills needed for socially and economically
productive lives; policies on housing, shelter and space for secure
family and communal living; policies on the provision of education on
health and safety and on occupational and lifestyle hazards; policies
on the provision of child and maternal health services, immunization
and nutrition.

The provision of health services is most effectively achieved within

the ambit of "primary health care", WHO's conceptual framework
which extends to the macro policies referred to above as well as
focusing on direct measures for individual and communal health.
Health needs are best met when the functions and activities of
medical, nursing and other health workers are integrated with Health
Extension Package Worker similarly trained in health prevention and
promotion.

The importance of the issues associated with health implies

responsibility for Health Extension worker to become familiar with its
extensive body of relevant knowledge, partly outlined as follows:
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Health Ethics and Law

• The linkages between health policies and human rights

policies including those relating to the rights of the child, the
rights of oppressed minorities and of refugees fleeing from
oppression;

• The structures and programmes of international governmental

and non-governmental organizations, and of multinational
corporations, that have an impact on health and illness;

• The psychosocial aspects of illness, disability and disease;

• The factors that promote positive health and well-being;

• The range of social, economic, cultural and political factors

that cause or contribute to illness and disability;
• The range of positive and negative factors in the physical
environment that affect the quality of air, water and food;

• The range and nature of physical, mental and emotional

illnesses and disabilities throughout the world;

• The factors affecting the HIV/AIDS pandemic and the

mammoth measures needed to prevent its proliferation, to
ameliorate and treat its physical, emotional, and social
symptoms and to seek its cure;

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Health Ethics and Law

• The special need for health care and other supportive

measures for women and, especially, women caring for
children;

• Theories of the prevention of illness, disability and

communicable diseases;

• The range of measures and modalities that have been

developed to prevent illness, disability and disease, including
lifestyle illnesses associated with smoking, alcohol
consumption and other forms of substance abuse, eating
disorders, lack of physical activity and the operation of
vehicles under unsafe conditions;

• The range of measures and modalities, including traditional

and modern medicine, for the treatment of illness, disability
and disease;

• The impact of working conditions on the health of workers and

on family life;

• The functioning of inter-disciplinary teams and other forms of

collaboration among different categories of health personnel
that contribute to healthy social policy;

• The role of consumers of health services, both as recipients of

the services of others and in self-help roles;

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Health Ethics and Law

1.2 Rationale of Ethics for Health Extension Workers

The mandate to assure and protect the health of the public is an

inherently moral one. It caries with it an obligation to care for the
well being of others and it implies the possession of an element of
power in order to carry out the mandate.

The general conduct of public health practice concerns the

professionals, individuals and the community at large. Ethical
issues often arise as a result of conflict among competing sets of
values, such as, in the field of public health, the conflict between
the rights of individuals and the need of communities.

The code of ethics for public health will clarify the distinctive
elements of public health and the ethical principles that follow
from or respond to those distinct aspects. The Health Extension
workers will be abided by code of ethics of public health in
rendering public health services.

The concerns of public health are not fully consonant with those of
medicine, however, thus we can not simply translate the principles
of medical ethics to public health. For example, in contrast to
medicine, public health is concerned more with populations than
individuals, and more with prevention than with cure.

In the context of Health Service extension programme (HSEP) the

ethical issues include equity, justice, equality and human rights.
These ideals should continue to be of primary importance in
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Health Ethics and Law

providing Health service extension programme (HSEP). Health

education, nutrition, basic hygiene and sanitation, family health,
immunization, prevention and control of HIV, TB, malaria and first
aid are major areas of focus in HSEP. Unless all these elements
are provided adequately and continuously without interruption,
HSEP will have no meaning. There are no priorities in these, and
they must be offered as complete package.

It is highly unethical to keep people ignorant about the causes,

control and prevention of diseases, about a healthy life style, and
about the social and community responsibilities of the people. Yet
this is exactly what happens in the absence of public health
education.

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Health Ethics and Law

UNIT TWO

Health Ethics
Learning objectives.

At the end of this unit the trainee will be able to:

• Know applied principles of Ethics

• Understand basic concepts and definitions of Ethics

• Understand importance of Ethics

• Use information included in the unit

Ethics and Morality

Health ethics have common features in different countries. However,

each country adopts certain modifications according to prevailing
local culture, religious beliefs, social norms and standards of public
health practice. In Ethiopia, the need for modification of code of ethics
is based on current beliefs, standards of public health practice and
religious concepts. Certain matters which are peculiar to the practice
of profession of health extension are largely left to the conscience of
the individual health extension worker, but the Ministry of Health by
virtue of its legal power vested upon it, has a particular interest to
codifying publicizing and enforcing ethical consideration on all health
cadres in Ethiopia.

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Health Ethics and Law

Definition of Ethics and Morality

The word ethics is derived from the Greek ethos, which means
custom or culture, a manner of acting or constant mode of behaviour.
Thus, Health ethics may be defined as a code of behaviour
accepted voluntarily, within the profession as, opposed to laws,
regulations and directives issued by official body or scientific
study of morality. It teaches us how to judge accurately the moral
goodness or badness of human action.

Morality

Definitions:- Morality is the science concerned with the

distinction between right and wrong. A moral act is one that is
carried out with at least some degree of knowledge and freedom,
proceeding from man’s rational nature. A moral act (a human act
which involves some principles of moral law), which is in
conformity with moral law, is called good but if opposed to moral
law, it is called bad. An act which is done with full knowledge and
full freedom of choice is a perfect moral act while an act in which both
knowledge and/or freedom is/or deficient is called an imperfect moral
act. An act, which may be either good or bad but carried out with
good intentions, is referred to a positive moral act. On the contrary an
act which entails omission such as an offence committed by neglect
of duty, is called a negative moral act. Factors, such as ignorance,

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Health Ethics and Law

emotion, violence and habit, that may lessen human knowledge or

freedom, may result in hindrance to accountability.

Public Health Ethics - concerns the professionals, individuals and the

community at large. Focus on the mandate to assure and protect the
health of the public-which is inherently moral one.

Importance of Ethics

• To help health professional identify moral and ethical issues,

• To know what is right and wrong about what should and

should not be done for and to client,

• To know and respect the issues of human rights, personal and

civic.

Basic Ethical Principles (General)

There are five widely accepted ethical principles as put forward by

Thiroux, 1995.

The Principle of Autonomy:

This principle means that people, being individuals with individual

differences must have a freedom to choose their own ways and
means of being moral with the framework of the other four principles.

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Health Ethics and Law

Respect for autonomy involves respecting another persons rights and

dignity such that a person reaches a maximum level of fulfillment as a
human being. In the context of health care this means that the
relationshop between client is based on a respect for him or her as a
person and with individual rights.

Rights in relation to health care are usually taken to include:

• The right to information

• The rigth to privacy and confidentiality

• The right to appropriate care and treatment

Beneficence (doing good)

Frankena (1963) suggests that beneficence means doing or

promoting good as well as preventing, removing and avoiding evil or
harm.

E.g. Giving clients clean needles, condoms and provide information

about emergency first aid to reduce the risks of HIV infection or
accident.

Non-maleficence (doing no harm)

Non-maleficence holds a central position in the tradition of medical

ethics and guards against avoidable harm to subjects.
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Health Ethics and Law

Justice (fairness)

This principle states that human being should treat other human
being fairly and justly in distribution goodness and badness among
them. In other words justice should include:

• Fair distribution of scarce resources

• Respect for individual and group rights

• Following morally acceptable laws

The principle of truth telling (honesty)

At the heart of any moral relationship is communication. A necessary

component of any meaningful communication is telling the truth,
being honest.

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Health Ethics and Law

UNIT THREE

Principles of Health Ethics For health Extension

Workers
The following principles are intended to aid Health Extension Worker
individually and collectively in maintaining a high level of ethical
conduct. They are not laws, but stands by which Health Extension
worker may determine the propriety of his/her conduct in his
relationship with:-

ƒ client/community members/community organizations

ƒ Other members of health professions

ƒ Government authorities and other sectors

Section 1: The principal objective of Health Profession is to

render services to humanity with full respect for dignity
of people. Health Extension Worker should merit the
confidence of communities and of individuals entrusted
in their care, rendering always a full measure of
service and devotion.
Section 2: Competence: Health Extension Worker should perform
only those procedures in which the Health Extension
Worker is competent by virtue of specific training or
experience. Health Extension Worker must not

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Health Ethics and Law

misrepresent credentials, training, experience, ability

or results.

Section 3: Health Extension Worker should recognize health and

illness in the broader context of social, environmental,
political and economic factors as related to Health
Service Extension programmes

Section 4: Health Extension Worker practice concerns in

prevention of illness and diseases and ensuring the
well being of the rural mass.

Section 5: The Health Extension worker (HEW) should safeguard

the public and herself against health hazards. Health
Extension Workers should observe all, polices and
guidelines up hold the dignity and honor in performing
his/her duties at all times.
Section 6: HEW should achieve community health in a way that
respects the rights of individuals in the community at
large.
Section 7: HEW worker should see that public health policies,
guidelines and programmes, should be developed and
evaluated through processes that ensure an
opportunity for input from community members,

Section 8: HEW should advocate for, or work for the

empowerment of, community members, ensuring that
the basic resources and conditions necessary for

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Health Ethics and Law

health are accessible to all people in the community.

As an advocates in the community setting. Health
Extension worker should:-

• Inform the clients and promote informed consent;

• Empower the client and protect autonomy;

• Protect the rights and interests of clients where they

cannot protect their own;

• Ensure clients have fair access to available resources;

• Represent and support the views/desires of the clients

and not just their needs.

Section 9: HEW should see that Health Service Extension

programmes and polices should be implemented in a
manner that must enhances the promotive and
preventive health services.

Section 10: HEW must protect the confidentiality of information that

can bring harm to an individual or community.
Section 11: Additional opinion(s) shall be obtained if requested by
the client. Consultations(s) made to protect or
safeguard client for further investigations and
management
Section 12: The Impaired Health Extension worker: A physically,
mentally, or emotionally impaired Health Extension

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Health Ethics and Law

Worker should withdraw from those aspects of practice

affected by the impairment. If the Health Extension
worker does not withdraw, it is the duty of others who
know of the impairment to take action to attempt to
prevent him from harming himself or others.

Section 14: Health Extension Worker should carry out the best
interest of the clients.
Section 15: HEW experience, judgment and practice must not be
affected by economic interest in, commitment to, or
benefit from health related commercial enterprises.
Section 16: Communications to colleagues must be accurate and
truthful.
Section 17: Communications to the community must be accurate.
She/He must not convey false, untrue, deceptive, or
misleading information through statements,
testimonials, photographs, graphics, or other means.
They must not omit material information, without which
the communication would be deceptive.
Communications must not appeal primarily to an
individual’s anxiety or create unjustified expectations of
results. Communications must not misrepresent the
Health Extension worker credentials, training,
experience, or ability and must not contain material
claims of superiority that cannot be substantiated.

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Health Ethics and Law

Section 18: Health Extension worker may not reveal confidence

entrusted to her in the course of attending clients, or
the deficiencies she may observe in the character of
clients, or unless it becomes necessary in order to
protect the welfare of the individual or community.
Section 19: Advertisement and Publicity
ƒ The Health Extension worker in her practice shall avoid
direct or indirect self-advertisement.
Section 20: Health Extension worker should participate and must
have interest in all activities of the community which
have the purpose of improving both the health and
well-being of individuals and the community.
Section 21: The Health Extension Worker is expected to be friendly
in carrying out her responsibilities.
Section 22: The Health Extension Worker is expected to be
present on time for every commitment she makes in
duties and responsibilities.

Section 23: The Health Extension Worker is expected to respect

the confidential aspects of her assignment, and the
dignity and privacy of the clients with whom she works.
Section 24: The Health Extension Worker must be involved, in a
warm and natural manner with the clients she serves
without becoming over involved.
Section 25: The Health Extension Worker should show empathy
with the clients, not sympathy.

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Health Ethics and Law

Section 26: The Health Extension Worker should be optimistic

about life in general and clients outlook in particular
without encouraging any unrealistic goals or attitudes.
Section 27: The Health Extension Worker should be honest and
genuine at all times.

Rules to Define the Public Interest

Section 28: Humans have a right to quality health. This public

health code of ethics affirms Article 25 of the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights, which states in part
“Everyone has the right to a standard of living
adequate for the health and well-being of himself and
his family…” Community.
Section 29: Humans are inherently social and interdependent.
Humans look to each other for companionship in
friendships, families, and community; and rely upon
one another for safety and survival. Positive
relationships among individuals and positive
collaborations among institutions are signs of a healthy
community.
Section 30: People and their physical environment are
interdependent: People depend upon the resources
of their natural and constructed environments for life
itself. A damaged or unbalanced natural environment,
and a constructed environment of poor design or in
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Health Ethics and Law

poor condition, will have an adverse effect on the

health of people. Conversely, people can have a
profound effect on their natural environment through
consumption of resources and generation of waste.
Section 31: Each person in a community should have an
opportunity to contribute to public discourse.

Section 32: Identifying and promoting the fundamental

requirements for health in a community are a
primary concern to public health. The way in which
a society is structured is reflected in the health of a
community. The primary concern of public health is
with these underlying structural aspects, and
secondarily with reducing the impact of adverse health
outcomes resulting from underling causes. Because
fundamental social structures affect many aspects of
health, addressing the fundamental causes rather than
the health outcomes or more proximal causes, is more
truly preventive.

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Health Ethics and Law

UNIT FOUR
Existing Health Laws In Ethiopia

Learning objectives
At the end of the unit the trainees will be able to:
• Understand existing health laws in Ethiopia
• Interpret and implement health laws in Ethiopia

Source of Enforcement of Laws and Procedures

There exist two basic arguments as to the procedure necessary to

promulgate health legislation in this country. A major body of public
health advisors believe that compliance with public health
requirements can never be obtained by force. The proponents of this
case argue that health standards can only be introduced into the
community through persuasion and education. The other argument is
that of enforcement.

If several cases are presented in which particular members of the

community are fined for being in violation of the existing law, there is
the possibility that the remainder of the community will become
immediately aware of the existing rules the danger of failing to comply
with them, and the necessity of following the directions. It is not the
purpose of this lecture note to present a case for either argument.
The only purpose of this lecture note is to inform the Health Extension
worker understand existing health laws for enforcement.
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Health Ethics and Law

The enforcement of public health legislation requires excellent

judgment. She must consider a variety of factors before she decides
to pursue a particular case through the court system. In general,
before considering the specific laws, their substance, and the
procedure of their enforcement, should consider the following general
characteristics of public health legislation.

The Community and the Law

The need for legislative reform in the field of public health is a

pressing problem; but now new legislation is in place (see appendix
1.) The HEW should consider whether a substantial part of the
community is prepared to accept a given rule of regulation before she
begins to force its acceptance through court enforcement. The HEW,
when faced with regulations that are too advance may find it
advisable to enforce only the part of that rule which is to some extent
applicable and leave the remainder for a later date when health
condition are more advanced.

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Health Ethics and Law

Summary of Legislation:-

Citation Title and Notes

2/1 (1942) P. 24 Prohibiting import of Dangerous Drugs

2/11 (1943) L.25 Sanitation rules.
The public Health proclamation 2/2 (1942) P.26
was repd. (6/12 (1947) F.91 without effect on
these rules. Rabies (control) Rules
p. 26 was repd. 6/2 (1947) F.91
Without effect on these rules.

2/11 (1943) L.26 Public Health

Amd .9/5 (1950) p.111, 10/12 (1951)
P.119 and in consolidation to
Conform with penal coda 16/11 (1957).

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Health Ethics and Law

6/12 (1947) P. 91 Quarantine Rules

158, Ex./1 (1957): impl. And. 7/7
(1948) 0.4. Amd. In consolidation to conform
With penal code 16/11 (1957) P . 150,
Ex./ (1957) : impl. And. 7/7 (1948) 0.4.
7/1 (1947) L. 104 The Public Health Proclamation 2/6
(1942) P.26 was repd. 6/12 (1947)
P. 91 without effect on these rules.
Public Health Rules
Water Rules
Food Rules
Refuse Rules
Vaccination Rules
Disposal of Dead Bodies Rules.

10/1 (1950) L.145 Venereal Diseases Rules

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Health Ethics and Law

10/1 (1950) L.146 Amd. In consolidation to conform

10/1 (1950) L.147 With penal Code. 16/11 (1957) P.
10/1 (1950) L.148 158, Ex./1 (1957).
10/1 (1950) L.149
10/1 (1950) L.150
10/1 (1950) L.151
10/12 (1951) L. 156 Communicable Diseases Rules
10/12 (1951) L.157 Sanitation Rules
8/2 (1947) D. 9 Pharmacopoeia
Impl. And. 7/7 (1948) 0.4

See Appendix I.

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Health Ethics and Law

Analysis of Legislation
2/31 (1943) L. 25: Sanitation Rules
The major function of this legislation is to empower the HEW to issue
order regarding various health matter the legal Notice is Primarily
concerned with; (1) wells; (2) seizure of foodstuffs; (3) disinfestation
and vaccination, and (4) disposal of refuse.

In order to enforce all rules and regulations in these areas the second
section of the legal Notice authorized HEW on the matters with which
these rules and concerned and covered by later laws, which probably
would be more suitable for prosecution. The one rule which does not
appear to be covered by the later is that which permits the (HEW) to
require dangerous wells to be closed. The law is directed toward the
public enforcement authority rather than the individual. The law does
not seem to hold the individual responsible but merely requires the
public enforcement authority to take remedial action. Therefore, there
is some doubt about the validity of enforcement of this law in local
communities.

Wells: The HEW is authorized to close any well, which he deems

dangerous to public health. There are no express criteria delineated
in the provision; and therefore, it is difficult to determine what
elements must exist in order for a well to be deemed dangerous to
public health.

Seizure of Foodstuffs: The HEW is given the authority to destroy all

foodstuffs which are considered dangerous to public health. Again
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Health Ethics and Law

the definition of what is dangers to public health is not present and it

is uncertain whether a judge will find a certain act in violation of
clause. It may be what is deemed by the woreda Health Office to be
dangerous to public health is an action which is generally should be
practiced through the community and perhaps of even by the judge.

Disinfestation and vaccination: This section of the Legal Notice

authorizes the HEW to order disinfection of any premises, which are
liable to harbor or spread disease. She is further required to order
persons suffering from infectious disease to receive medical
treatment and body disinfection and isolation. The power to order the
vaccination of any persons for vaccine preventable diseases.

Disposal of Refuse: There are five sections of notice overrunning

this subject. These sections present reasonable clear statements of
the requirements imposed on property owners in regard to their
disposal of refuse. They prohibit the burning or disposal of refuse in
any public street or public place; require the removal of night soil from
buildings; demand removal of dead animals within twenty-four hours;
and prohibit the disposal of any or carcass in any street, public place
or water source. The sections of this area seen to provide explicit
and reasonably concise requirements and violations of the provisions
could be proved in court with little difficulty.

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Health Ethics and Law

2.11 (1943) L. 26: Rabies (Control) Rules:

The Legal Notice allows the commissioner of police to destroy any
dog with out a mark or identification or any dog with a mark of
identification but appearing to suffering from rabies. The law is
reasonably explicit but it dose not provide for woreda Health Office
enforcement. The regulation and enforcement of it by law is
governed by the police commissioner; and therefore, will not be a part
of the woreda Health Office enforcement; practices and procedures.

6/12 (1947) P. 91: Public Health Department

Proclamation 91 sets up the respective duties and responsibilities of
the Ministry of Health in its sub-divisions. In particular, part III
delineates the regional and local administration of the Ministry of
Health’s rules and regulations. Actions eight-to-fourteen define the
duties of the regional council, regional health Bureau, the Kantiba and
the HEW. These sections should be consulted in order to determine
which official in the hierarchy is to be responsible for the enforcement
of public health legislation. Note that section 15(11) provides that the
public health legislation shall be enforced in accordance the penal
code of 1957 (subseq/impl. Amd.). This shall be an important point,
which will be introduced later in this chapter. 7/1 (1949)

104: Quarantine Rules

This Legal Notice control the entrance of infective persons, vehicles
merchandise and baggage into Ethiopia. It has no substantial

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Health Ethics and Law

application within the provinces as it appears to regulate only border

problems and therefore, would not be applicable for use by health
center staffs. In general, this legislation governs the quarantine of
persons, and the quarantine of merchandise baggage.

10/1 145: Woreda Health Office Rules

The HEW should be familiar with this legislation since it defines most
of the legal aspects of his office. This legal Notice requires her to
engage in a variety of numerated acts, which are designed to
promote the health of the community. In particular, the Woredas
Health Office is required by section five to report to the Kantiba if any
condition exists which is dangerous to public health; the Kantiba is
thus granted authority to refrain from granting a new license to a new
applying establishment in which there exist violation of any provision
of any health legislation.

This legislation does not appear to authorize revocation of any

present establishment’s licenses; however, section seven allows the
kantiba to withhold extetion or renewal of any license held by an
established license business which is acting contrary to law. The law
also includes a tag on provision, section six, which requires every
person having a vacant plot fence it in accordance with the
instructions given by the authority. It should be noted that this
legislation assists functions the kantiba.

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Health Ethics and Law

10/1 (1950) L. 146: Water Rules

Legal Notice 149 combines a series of separate provisions, which
together are designed to prevent impure and unhealthy water from
reaching the public. A large part of this legislation has been
superceded by later more pervasive law; but, in general, it provides
some good enforceable rules and regulations. The sections of this
legislation are designed to prevent contamination of the water table
and the watercourses in Ethiopian towns. The legislation is straight
forward and provides little room for judicial interpretation as to what in
fact constitutes a threat to public health for example: “unsafe water”
is defined as "water which can be demonstrated to be polluted with
human or animal excrement or with poisonous substances.
“Therefore, the legislation is that of prohibition and provides a clear
and specific enough set of rules and regulations to allow any judge to
declare a particular act in violation of the law.

The legislation prohibits: (1) offering unsafe water to the public for
drinking: (2) urination or defecation in public places or places other
than a properly constructed fly-proof latrine; (3) exposing human
excrement to flies or rat of permitting such to be exposed upon his
premises; (4) the exposure and discharge of sewage into water
courses without a permit; and (5) the discharge of sewage into
cesspool or abandoned well more than ten meters deep, or
contamination of the natural ground water at a depth greater than ten
meters.

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Health Ethics and Law

The Food Laws: (1) prohibit offering to the public food unsafe or
unfit for human consumption (2) food contaminated with human waste
material as dangerous to public health; (3) define certain foods as
unsafe for human consumption: (a) meat without stamp of public
municipal slaughter house; (b) milk from animals having tuberculosis
infections, abortion, or anthrax cases; (c) other food declared unsafe
by the HEW; and (d) vegetables irrigated with water containing
human excrement; (4) authorize the Woreda Health Office to sample
the foods; (5) prohibit the serving of food or drink in containers or
with utensils not properly washed and define washing standards; (6)
prohibited food or drink containers from being used which are not
capable of being cleaned; (7) require all places where food or drink
is served to prevent the access of flies, roaches and rats to the food;
(9) require that butcher shops to be thoroughly cleaned daily; and
(10) authorize the HEW to grade restaurants and other shops selling
food to the public according to standards she has drawn up and to
issue a certificate stating the grade that the shop has been given.

10/1 (1950) L. 148. Refuse Rules

All private households and business enterprises are required by this
Legal Notice to keep all garbage and refuse in bins and containers.
The provisions of this Legal Notice are reasonably defined and should
be enforceable in court should concrete proof of the alleged violation
be in the hands of the HEW.

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Health Ethics and Law

In general, the rules require; (1) garbage to be deposited daily in

municipal garbage in containers on the premise: (2) containers to be
easily cleaned and that they be maintained in good condition with
tight fitting lids capable of excluding flies and rats; (3) the non
accumulation of putrescible material which may breed flies.

10/1 (1950) L. 149: Vaccination Rules:

This legal notice requires all parents to have their children vaccinated
at the public clinics maintained by the municipal/Public Health
service. The requirements are concise and specific and should be
enforceable with little difficulty.

10/1 (150) L.150: Disposal of Dead Bodies

This legislation requires the Kentibas to designate cemeteries or
burial places. It further sets up the duties of the cementer officers and
the rules and regulations of the burial procedure. Only article three
places some duty on the surviving relation to make sure that the body
is buried with decency before but not later than twelve hours after
death.

10/3 (1950) L. 151 Venereal Disease Rules

The legislation in this area does not begin to meet the basic problems
inherent in this major public health problem. The rules set forth in this
Legal Notice are clearly not pervasive to provide the power necessary
to restrict and control the practice of prostitution and the spread to

33
Health Ethics and Law

venereal disease. There occurs flagrant violation of this law in every

town in Ethiopia. e.g. (ii): no prostitute shall practice prostitution on
premises or places where intoxicating liquors are sold or consumed or
on any promises connected therewith”. For those reasons it appears
that this law will be difficult to enforce in the courts due to the lack of
public opinion and non-governmental desire to enforce the Notice’s
sanctions and provisions. There is also considerable inertia created
by the views of the community in regard to such practice. Therefore,
for the present, not only is the legislation not sufficient, but appears
that the community is also not ready to accept enforcement.

10/12 (1951) L. 156: Communicable Disease Rules

This legislation sets forth specific and enumerated communicable
diseases which it divides into classes. The legal Notice is designed to
find and eradicate disease with complete protection to citizens in the
epidemic or endemic areas. The regulations of this Legal Notice are
primary directed toward the Health Officials in charge of the area in
question: however, section 9, 10, 11 and 14 apply specifically to
private individuals and are sufficiently specific that their violation may
be prosecuted in the courts.

Section nine requires the notification of the existence of a

communicable disease as soon as the individual has knowledge of it.
This requirement is placed on all individuals over eighteen years of
age, the heads of households, and the managers of any leading

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Health Ethics and Law

establishments. Under section 14, any person who refuse to comply

with the rule of the provisions of the rules shall be liable to the
penalties prescribed under Article 15 of the public Health
proclamation (proclamation No. 91 of 1947).

10/12 (1951) L. 157: Urination and Defecation

This un-enforced law provides a penalty of twenty-five cents or twelve
hours in jail to be imposed upon any individual found urinating or
defecating in any public street or along any public water course. It
will be difficult to enforce this law until sufficient public latrine facilities
are constructed which will aid in the prevention of these acts.
Therefore, there are no the provisions of this legislation.

N. 18/6 (1959) 0.22: Malaria control and prevention:-

The primary thrust of this order is directed to ward the actions of the
malaria control and prevention, section ten provides that any person
who visits any provision of the order or regulations issued there under
provided cordance. With the provisions of article 785 of the penal
code of Ethiopia of 1957. This section is designed to enforce the
particular provisions applying to individual. In particular section 6 and
7 require individuals to permit taking of blood films accept treatment
for malaria and report any person with malaria who fail to comply with
this regulation.

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Health Ethics and Law

Articles 503-520
These Articles are primarily concerned with offences against public
health. This section of the code, comprising Title VIII, is concerned
with promulgating specific laws which prohibit certain offences
against the health of the community. Listed as “Infringement of the
general protective provisions” are the following laws:

Article 503 - Spreading of Human Diseases

• Spreading of human diseases intentionally or negligently is
punishable
• Where the offender intentionally transmitted grave diseases as
epidemic, the punishment is rigorous imprisonment not exceeding
five years, if necessary in addition to fine.
• Where the offender has acted through negligence, the
punishment is simple imprisonment not exceeding one year, or
fine

Article 504 - Spreading of Epizootic Disease

Article 505 - Propagation of Agricultural or Forest Parasite
Article 506 - Contamination of Water
Article 507 - Contamination of Pastureland

Public Health Measures

• Disregard of the measures prescribed by law for the prevention,
limit or arrest of a communicable disease is punishable

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Health Ethics and Law

• In cases of intentional disregard, the punishment is simple

imprisonment not exceeding two years or fine, and where the
offender has acted by negligence he is punished with
imprisonment not exceeding six months, and with a fine not
exceeding one thousand Birr.

Article 509 - Production, Making, or Distribution of Poisonous or

Narcotic Substances
• Production, making, transforming, importing, exporting or
transporting, acquiring or receiving, storing, offering for sale or
distribution or procuring for another, poisons drugs, or narcotic
substances, without lawful authority is punishable act.

• The punishment may be simple imprisonment for not less than

three months, and with a fine not exceeding twenty thousand Birr.

• The same punishment may be inflicted upon any one who

knowingly places at the disposal of another, premises in which
(where) the taking of drugs or narcotic substance is practiced.

• Rigorous imprisonment not exceeding five years and a fine not

exceeding thirty thousand Birr may be passed where the offense
is committed by a band or association organized by this traffic, or
by a person who makes a profession of such violent action or
where such forbidden toxic substance or access to the premises
is furnished knowingly, for gain for improper motivate, to an infant
or young person, a mental defective or a drug addict.
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Health Ethics and Law

Articles 510 - Of Poisonous of Narcotic Substances:

Manufacture, Adulteration and Sale of Injurious
or Damaged Products are prohibited
Article 511 - Manufacture, Adulteration and Sale of Injurious of
Damaged Products or Food Staff
• Manufacture of food stuffs, products for human consumption --in
such a way as to endanger public health or importing receiving,
storing, offering for sale or distributing such injurious products is
punishable with simple imprisonment for not less than three
months, or in grave cases, with rigorous imprisonment not
exceeding five years and fine.
o A severe sentence (punishment) is passed where the
offender discharges special duties of supervision or
control in an undertaking of public interest belonging to
the state, or let out to concession by the state or in
cases of the deliberate manufacture…

Article 514 - Endangering the Health of Another by Alcoholic

Beverage or highly fermented Liquor /Very
alcoholic is punishable;
Article 515 - Endangering by Mental Means or Practices
• Endangering the health of another by inducing in him/her a state
of hypnosis, trance or catalepsy or any other changes or
suspension of his/her conscious faculties is punishable with simple
imprisonment not exceeding three months or fine, with the

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Health Ethics and Law

prohibition of professional practice, if necessary, where the offense

is repeated…

Article 518 - Unlawful Exercise of The Public Health Professions

• A making of treatment of sick persons in any form for
remuneration, whether the treatment is by consultation, by selling
of remedies or any other medical or curative activities are
punishable with simple imprisonment or fine.

• Casual advice, aid, or services rendered in cases of urgency or in

an emergency or out of kindness or devotion and free of charge …
do not come under this provision. (is not punishable).

Article 519 - Unlawful Delivery of Poisonous or Dangerous

Substances
• Making the use of poisonous or narcotic substances or
substances entailing grave danger to health, or to keep or sale
such substance, or delivering them to the public without special
authority and apart from the cases permitted in normative curative
practice is punishable with simple imprisonment not exceeding five
years, and fine, where the offender has acted in a grossly culpable
manner for gain a fine not exceeding twenty thousand Birr is
imposed.

Article 520 - Refusal to Provide Professional Aid

• Any person lawfully entitled to render professional attention and
care, who, contrary to his duty and without just cause, refuses, to

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Health Ethics and Law

provide his services in a case of serious need, whether from

indifference, selfishness, cruelty, hatred, or contempt, or for any
other similar motive is punished with fine, in the event of repetition
of the offense simple imprisonment not exceeding one month may
be passed.

• The punishment may be up to one year where the offender is

under an obligation, professional or contractual, medical, to go to
the victim's aid or lend him assistance.

• Manufacture of food stuffs, products for human consumption --in

such a way as to endanger public health or importing receiving,
storing, offering for sale or distributing such injurious products is
punishable with simple imprisonment for not less than three
months, or in grave cases, with rigorous imprisonment not
exceeding five years and fine.

• A severe sentence (punishment) is passed where the offender

discharges special duties of supervision or control in an
undertaking of public interest belonging to the state, or let out to
concession by the state or in cases of the deliberate
manufacture…

The Criminal Procedure Code of 1961

These articles are intended to protect the rights of defendant charged
with violation of the article of the penal code of 1957. In particular, the
HEW should be aware of article 51 governing arrest without a
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Health Ethics and Law

warrant. This article prohibit the police from arresting any individual
without a warrant unless the person arrested is reasonably suspected
of having committed an offence punishable with imprisonment for not
less than one year. This article in effect precludes almost all public
health legislation in Ethiopia. Therefore, the HEW should be aware of
bringing individuals into the court before securing a warrant from the
proper authorities.

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Health Ethics and Law

Bibliography

1. Bankowski Z, and JC Beranardelli (1980,1981) Medical Ethics

and Medical Education, XIVth. CIOMS Round Table
Conference, Mexico City, 1-3 December 1980 and Geneva,
1981.

2. Biomedical Ethis by Tomas A.Mappes and Jane S.Zembaty

McGraw Hill Book company-1981.

3. Civil code of Ethiopia (1960) Ethiopian code of Laws and

Medical Ethics: Personality and the right inherent to
personality.

4. Former, MJ. (1981). Ethical issues in Health Care. London.

5. Greek Manuscript (about 460-377 B.C). An illustration of

th
Heppocrates and his oath taken form a 14 century Greek
Manuscript, is found in the Bibliotheque National Paris.

6. Medical Ethics for physicians practicing in Ethiopia -

MOH1987.

7. Penal Code of Ethiopia (1957). Ethiopian code of Laws and

Medical Ethics: Lawful Acts justifiable Acts and Excuses.

8. Spicier, SF and Engelhardt, HT(ed) (1977). Philosophical

Medical Ethics: Its Nature and significance. In Proceedings of
the Third-disciplinary symposium, PP.30. D.Reidal Publishing
Company, Dardrecht: Holland/Boston, USA.
42
Health Ethics and Law

9. Thomas, JE (1983). Medical Ethics and Human Life, PP319-

32.

10. World Medical Association (1968). The First International

Code of Medical Ethics drawn by the world Medical
Association as a modern version of the Hippocratic Oath. It
was amended by the 22nd world Medical Assembly. Sydney
Australia, in August 1968 and 35th world Medical Assembly,
Venice, Italy, in October 1983.

11. World Medical Association (1981). The Declaration of Lisbon

on the Rights of Patients, 1981 Lisbon, Portugal.

12. World Medical Association (1975). The Declaration of Tokyo

on Torture and other cruel, in human or degrading treatment
or Punishment.

13. WHO and Council for International Organizations of Medical

Sciences (1982). Proposal International Guidelines for
Biomedical Research involving human subjects, a joint project
of WHO and council of International organizations of Medical
sciences, Geneva.

14. Ethiopian Science and Technology Commission: Health

Systems Research Policy, Addis Ababa 1990.

15. Ethiopian Public health Association (2003). Public Health

Code of Ethics for Ethiopia.

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Health Ethics and Law

16. Human Rights manual Ethical Document Newsletter update,

2004

17. Challi Jira (2002). Health Ethics and legal medicine for Health
Oficer students, Lecture note series, Jimma University Faculty
of Public Health.

18. Public Health Proclamation No. 26/1942

19. Public Health Proclamation NO 92/1947

20. Legal Notices, orders and Proclamations issued in Negarit

(1961)

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Health Ethics and Law

APPENDIX I

Public health Proclamation

Federal Negarit Gazeta of Federal Democratic Republic of

Ethiopia

Proclamation NO. 2002/2000

Public Health Proclamation Page 1274

Proclamation No. 200/2000

Public Health Proclamation

WHEREAS, the active participation of the society in the health sector

has become necessary for the implementation of the country's health
policy:

WHEREAS, it is believed that the attitudinal change of the society

through primary health care approach can solve most of the health
problems of the country.

WHEREAS, the issuance of public health law is believed to be an

important step for the promotion of the health of the society and for
the creation of healthy environment for the future generation thereby
enabling it assume its responsibility;

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Health Ethics and Law

NOW, Therefore, in accordance with Article 55(1) of the constitution

of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, it is hereby
proclaimed as follows:

PART ONE

General

1. Short Title

This Proclamation may be cited as the "Public Health Proclamation

No. 200/2000".

2. Definitions

Unless the context requires otherwise, in this proclamation:

1. "Food quality" means a food that meets the biological,

chemical and physical standards set nationally and
internationally;

2. "Food means any substance whether processed, semi-

processed or raw which is intended for human consumption
and includes drinks, chewing gum and any substance which
has been used in the manufacture, preparation or treatment of
food, but it does not include tobacco, cosmetics or substances
used only as drugs;

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Health Ethics and Law

3. "Public Health Authority" means the Ministry of Health, or the

Health bureau of a Regional State or of a City accountable to
the Federal Government;

4. "Food Additive" means any substance added to food to

improve its taste, color, preservation of appearance and which
is considered to become a component of food;

5. "Health" means not only the absence of diseases but also the
complete physical, mental and social well being of an
individual;

6. "Occupational Health Care" means a science devoted to the

application of scientific, technological and managerial
principles to protect and control workers health by preventing
or reducing risks that may occur within working areas or
relating to occupation due to chemical, physical or biological
agents;

7. "Minister" or "Ministry" means the Minister or Ministry of

Health, respectively;

8. "Suspected person" means a person who is considered, by

Health Authorities, as provided in this proclamation, as having
been exposed to infection by a disease and is capable of
communicating it;

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Health Ethics and Law

9. "Inspector" means any person qualified with relevant field of

studies, and authorized, in writing, by the Ministry or by
Regional Health Bureau to perform the activities specified in
the Proclamation;

10. "Building" means any kind of structure with wall and roof
including any mobile structure made for shelter;

11. "Untreated liquid waste" means waste generated from

industries, agricultural institutions, schools and commercial
areas that undergo several changes due to biological and
chemical reactions and which can affect the health of human
beings, animals and plants when discharged, into water
bodies, plants or soils, before treatment;

12. "Entrance or Exit port" means customs port or other places

designated by the Minister for control of goods, transportations
or persons entering into or going out of the country;

13. "Person" means and physical or legal person.

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Health Ethics and Law

PART TWO
Advisory Board

3. Establishment of Advisory Board

There shall be established a Public Advisory Board (hereinafter
called “the Board”) at the Federal and Regional level for the
purpose of advising the appropriate health authority in the proper
implementation of this Proclamation.

4. Powers and Duties of the Board

The Board shall have the following powers and duties:
1) to advise the Health Authority on health matters specified in
this Proclamation;
2) to conduct studies and researches necessary for health
activities and submit same to the public health authority.
3) to perform such other activities as may be assigned to it by the
public health authority.

5. Meetings of the Board

1) The Board shall issue its own rules of procedure of meetings;
2) There shall be a quorum where more than half of the members
are present.
3) Decisions shall be made by majority vote; in case of a tie, the
chairperson shall have a casting vote.
4) The term of office of members of the Board shall be three years.

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Health Ethics and Law

PART THREE
Inspection
6. Appointment of Inspectors
The Public Health Authority shall appoint qualified and capable
inspectors to implement the provisions of this Proclamation and
other laws and directives related with public health.

7. Powers and Duties of the Inspector

The Inspector shall have the following powers and duties:
1) to enter and inspect any premise which he has sufficient
reason to believe that there exists a situation endangering
public health;
2) any Inspector entering any premise shall;
(a) request a police support if he has reason to believe that
there exists a situation obstructing the execution of his
responsibility;
(b) present his identity card showing his authority;
3) to appropriate any article or material which is the result of any
act committed contrary to law or used for the commission of the
illegal act or has any
4) to detain the articles or materials which he has appropriated in
accordance with Sub-Article (3) of this Article and;
(a) to conduct inspection on the articles or materials;
(b) to make sure that the articles and materials will be used as
evidence for the legal measures be taken in accordance

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Health Ethics and Law

with this Proclamation or other appropriate provisions of

other law:
5) to order that any article, material or goods found in any premise
he entered and which is under investigation shall be kept
untouched, separately or together for a necessary period of
time or that the premise or the building shall remain closed for
limited period of time;
6) to take measurements, photographs and make recordings
necessary for investigation;
7) to take, where necessary, samples of article materials or goods
from any premise or building, or any sample of air from within
the premise or from the compound;
8) to cause the keeping separately of or the destruction of articles,
materials or goods found in any premise or building where he
or she has sufficient reason to believe that such goods are
dangerous to health, or that they cause or can cause another
danger; the measure of separation, however, should not result
in the damage of such goods;
9) to request any information from any person which he believes
can give any information relevant for his investigation;
10) to cause the institution of prosecution by the authorized organ.

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Health Ethics and Law

PARTFOUR
Public Health

8. Food Quality Control

1) It is prohibited to prepare, import, distribute, or make
available to consumers any food which is unhygienic,
contaminated, unwholesome or mislabeled and does not
meet the standards of food quality.
2) Any food intended for human consumption shall meet the
standards of food quality and should be labeled and
preserved in accordingly healthy manner.
3) Any person who produces or distributes salt for human
consumption shall ensure that it meets the standard
requirement of iodine content.
4) Any person may not establish and use any laboratory for the
follow-up and control of contamination of food, water, air and
plants unless he is permitted one registered by the health
authority and by the appropriate organ regarding this quality
and standard of the instruments.
9. Food Standard Requirements
Any person engaged in any activity of selling, producing for sale,
storing, preparing or preserving of any food intended for human
consumption shall meet the standards set by the Ministry.

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Health Ethics and Law

10. Water quality control.

1) It is prohibited to give water supply service from springs,
wells or through pipes unless its quality is verified by the
Health Authority.
2) It is prohibited to import, produce or distribute to the society
bottled mineral water or plane water unless its quality is
verified.
3) It is prohibited to discharge untreated liquid waste generated
from septic tanks, seepage pits, and industries into water
bodies, or water convergences.

11. Occupational Health Control and Use of Machinery

1) Any employer shall ensure the availability of occupational
health services to his employees.
2) The use of any machinery or instrument which generates
excessive noise is prohibited. Any person who uses such
machinery or instrument shall install noise reducing
apparatus or instrument.

12. Waste Handling and Disposal

1) Any person shall collect waste in a especially designated
place and in a manner which does not affect the health of the
society.

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Health Ethics and Law

2) No person shall dispose solid, liquid or any other waste in a

manner which contaminates the environment or affects the
health of the society.
3) Any solid, liquid and other wastes generated from hospitals
should be handled with special care and their disposal
procedures should meet the standards set by the public
health authorities.

13. Availability of Toilet Facilities

1) Any institution or organization providing public service has
the obligation to organize clean, adequate and accessible
toilet facilities for its customers.
2) Any city administration is responsible to provide public toilet
and ensure its cleanliness.

14. Control of Bathing Places and Pools

1) No person shall provide a public bathing place or swimming
pool service unless authorized by appropriate health
authority.
2) Any person providing a public bathing or swimming pool may
not allow his service to persons with physically visible skin
disease or lesions.
3) No person shall provide a natural steam bathing or hot spring
service unless authorized by the appropriate health authority.

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Health Ethics and Law

15. Disposal of Dead Bodies

1) It is prohibited to bury or burn a dead body or human remains
in the places other than that are allowed for such burial or
burning.

2) It is prohibited to exhume or expose in any wany a dead body

without authorization of the appropriate health authority.

16. Controls at Entrance and Exit Ports

1). Any passenger coming to Ethiopia or leaving Ethiopia is
obliged to take vaccination required for international
passengers and to show his certificate whenever requested
by the concerned health offices and, where suspected of any
communicable disease, to cooperate for medical
examination.
2) Any person coming from an epidemic area may not be
allowed to enter Ethiopia unless he possesses a valid
certificate.
3) Any port authority has the duty to report any suspected
passenger of any communicable disease to the nearest
health office.
4) It is prohibited to transport animals, without vaccination and
valid certificate, together with passengers.

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Health Ethics and Law

17. Communicable Diseases

I) Any person who happens to know the existence of
communicable disease in his/her vicinity has the duty to
report immediately to the nearest health service institution.
The institution receiving the report has to take the necessary
measures and report to the appropriate health authority.
2) Any suspected person of any communicable disease shall
cooperate for medical examination or vaccination.
3) The Ministry shall have the power to restrict movements to
certain countries, or to the areas where there is epidemic, or
to close schools or recreational areas, or to remove workers
with communicable diseases from their working places, and
to take other similar measures whenever an epidemic occurs.
4) The prevention and control of communicable diseases shall
be regulated by the regulations issued in accordance with
this proclamation.

18 The Requirement of Health Permit and Registration Before

Resumption and After Completion of Construction
1) Any person constructing buildings for public services has the
obligation to get the necessary permit from and get registered
by appropriate health authority beginning from planning to the
completion of his construction in accordance with the
regulations and directives issued pursuant to this
Proclamation.

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Health Ethics and Law

2) Any person constructing houses, production facilities, and

public service enterprises, or institutions has the duty to
include toilet facility.

PART FIVE
Miscellaneous Provisions
19. Obligation to Cooperate
Any person shall have the obligation to cooperate for the
implementation of the provisions of this Proclamation.

20. Penalty
Unless the Penal Code provides a more severe penalty:
1) any person who violates Article 9 of this Proclamation shall
be punishable with fine from Birr 2500 upto 5000.
2) any person who disposes waste outside a garbage container
in a manner that can cause the contamination of the
environment or can create a health hazard, is punishable with
simple imprisonment from three months to three years and
with fine from Birr 1000 upto 9000.
3) any person who violates Article 11 Sub Articles (1) and (2) of
this Proclamation shall be punishable with fine from Birr 1000
up to 9000 and with simple imprisonment from one month to
one year.

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Health Ethics and Law

4) any person who violates Article 14 of this Proclamation shall

be punishable with fine from Birr 1000 upto 5000 and with
simple imprisonment from one month up to six months.
5) any person who violates Article 16 of this proclamation shall
be punishable with fine from Birr 500 up to 3000.

21. Repealed and Applicable Laws

1) The following laws are hereby repealed:
(a) Public Health Proclamation No. 26/1942; and
(b) Public Health Proclamation No. 92/1947.
2) Regulations issued under Proclamation No.26/1942 and
Proclamation No.91/1947 shall remain applicable as long as
they are not inconsistent with this Proclamation.

22. Power to issue Regulations

1) The Council of Ministers may issue regulations for the
implementation of this Proclamation.
2) A Regional Administration or a City Administration which is
accountable to the Federal State may issue laws for the
implementation of this Proclamation.

23. Power to Issue Directives

The Public Health Authority may issue directives for the
implementation of the regulations issued under this Proclamation.

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Health Ethics and Law

24. Effective Date

This Proclamation shall enter into force as of the 9th day of March,
2000.

Done at Addis Ababa, this 9th day of March, 2000.

NEGASO GIDADA (DR.)

PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF

ETHIOPIA

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